Adhesive bandage



ADHESIVE BANDAGE Thaimer I. Thompson, Burlingame, Calif.

Application December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,818

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-156) This invention relates to new and useful dressings for epidermal indurations of the feet.

Most epidermal indurations of the feet such as corninon corns are caused by frictional contact between a particular area of the epidermis and the shoe. Similarly, the growth may result from Contact between two toes. The frictional Contact may cause damage in at least two ways. The frictional contact may generate painful heat and, according to a familiar phenomenon, the epidermis may thicken and harden, which growth is commonly known as a corn or callous.

The problem of heat generation is aggravated by natural conditions. The epidermis is a natural insulator and poor heat conductor. Thus, frictional heat engendered between point of pressure, e. g., the second joint of the small toe and shoe, is localized at the point of contact and is additive in effect. And, depending on the coefcient of friction and concentration of points of pressure, the heat developed may be very substantial and painful. This propensity of heat to concentrate at a given point of localized pressure will be hereinafter referred to as point loading.

Conventional corn-dressings heretofore in use have been relatively thick and bulky and derive their merits largely from a cushioning effect. The consequence is to increase rather than alleviate the build-up of pressure on the area of induration. The present bandage is thin, compact and easy to keep in proper position and does notA endeavor to solve the problem by cushioning the sensitive area, but, rather, employs an entirely new structure and function.

An object of this invention is to provide a dressing for epidermal indurations which materially diminishes the coefficient of friction between the afflicted area of the foot and the shoe, thereby minimizing both the painful rubbing action and point-loading resultants of frictional wear. More specifically, an object is to provide a bandage or dressing which reduces the frictional contact between shoe and dressing and between dressingy and area of epidermal induration.

Reference herein to a shoe includes a shoe or like object and includes socks and stockings or the like worn between shoe and foot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dressing including a means for rapid dissemination or dispersion of engendered heat, thereby eliminating substantially the point-loading aspect of frictional contact. The heat dispersion made possible by this invention prevents buildup of painful and harmful heat both between the shoe and dressing and between the dressing and area of induration.

An additional object of this invention is to produce a dressing which aids in the ultimate sloughing off of the induration.

Another object of this invention is to produce a thin, durable, preventative dressing which can be worn cornfortably to forestall reformation or recurrence of a corn at chronically sensitive areas.

` 2,755,800 Patented July 24, 1956 The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following written description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating use of the bandage.

Essentially, the invention resides in provision of metal foil sheet members, such as aluminum foil, secured to both sides of suitable flexible tape formed of plastic or fabric or the like and provided with an adhesively coated. undersurface.

A strip of tape, generally indicated at A, is preferably formed of suitable moisture-proof flexible fabric or plastic material of desired length and width to suit the intended' purpose, such as treatment of an epidermal induration of the toe, i. e., a corn. The bottom surface of the tape is provided with a suitable pressure sensitive adhesive shown at 3 adapted to adhere to skin.

The top surface ol' the tape is provided with a sheet of. metal foil 4 by means of a suitable adhesive material indicated at 5. a sheet of metal foil 6 positioned thereon by means of a suitable additive adhesive 7. lt is possible that the adhesive 3 provided on the underside of the tape body may be suitable to securely adhere the foilv sheet 6 to the underside without the addition of an additive adhesive. The sheets 4 and 6 are of lesser length than the tape body A and preferably the metal foil sheets 4 and 6 are of lesser width than the tape body to thus provide marginal or perimetric bands or strips 8 and 9 of exposed tape surface on the top and bottom surfaces of the tape body.

The foil sheets 4 and 6 are arranged in reference to one another so that the foil sheet 4 overlies the sheet 6. In other words, both sheets 4 and 6 are positioned in refery ence to one another and the tape so that the sheet 4 overlies the area of the tape occupied by the sheet 6 and may extend. beyond the marginal edges of the sheet 6.

Generally, it is inherent in the manufacture of metal foil, such as aluminum foil, that one surface is highly polished while the opposite side is relatively dull. Preferably in the practice of the present invention, the dull sides of the metal sheets 4 and 6 are positioned obverse to the tape body so that the highly polished surfaces of the metal foil Sheets are' in contact with both the epidermal induration treated and with the shoe of the wearer. The highly polished or shiny surface of the foil tends to reduce frictional contact between shoe and bandage and between bandage and induration. l am not concerned with the employment of the relatively dull surface of the foil obverse to the tape body but only that the most highly polished surface of foil be obverse to the area of induration and shoe to thus reduce the coefficient of frictional contact therebetween.

The perimetric strips 8 and 9 of the exposed tape body act as buffer areas to minimize possible loci of irritation surrounding the foil sheeting.

Additionally, marginal bands or strips 9 on the bottom of the tape body provided with adhesive 3 tend to seal the foil sheet 6 around the induration and thus prevents escape of moisture therefrom. it has been found that the combination of moisture sealed within the bandage be- The bottom of the tape is provided withv tween the foil sheet 6 and skin reduces frictional wear between bandage and skin and thus further reduces consequent heat generation. Additionally, though perhaps medically disputable, salts appear to be formed by contact of the aluminum metal foil with the body moisture which in turn contributes synergistically to the sloughing oli of epidermal indurations. The perimetric strips 9 and foil piece 6 tend to produce initially a substantially air and watertight seal around the induration, thus confining the area of induration entirely to contact with the foil sheet 6. Perspiration which collects between the sheet 6 and area of induration is conserved and serves as a lubricating vehicle to thus reduce the coeiicient of friction between the metal surface and sensitive area. Additionally, the collected moisture appears to assist the dispersion and dissipation of any heat which may be generated. The bond or seal between strips 9 and skin surface may become loosened after the bandage has been in use for several days. Additionally moisture loss is largely prevented by reason of the impervious foil sheeting overlying and in direct contact with the area of induration.

Though I have proposed that the metal sheet 4 secured to the top surface of the tape body is of lesser width than the tape body to provide marginal strips or perimetric bands 8 of exposed tape body, the same is not necessary but may add to the general appearance, lessen the bulk of the bandage and assist in preventing of possible irritation. The sheet 4 may be the same width as the tape body without affecting the operability and efficiency of the bandage and in some instances it may be desirable to have the foil sheet 4 longer and/ or Wider than the underlying foil sheet 6.

In some applications, particularly to the small toe, the bandage may be made substantially larger than the area of the induration so that the top sheet 4 of foil is large enough to minimize frictional contact between the toe and shoe, while the bottom sheet 6 may be confined to overlie substantially only the area of the induration.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modification of the invention and wherein a single unitary sheet of foil 12 is bent re-entrantly around the tape A to cover both the top and bottom surfaces thereof with the dull side obverse to the tape body both top and bottom. In certain types of epidermal indurations it may be found that air circulation and consequent loss of moisture from the area of induration is not important and therefore the modification of Fig. 4 illustrates that my bandage may be made from a single sheet of foil and without the necessity of perimetric bonds such as illustrated by the strips 9 surrounding the foil sheet in contact with the area of induration.

The sandwich structure formed of tape and metal foil sheets 4 and 6 is flexible and long wearing. The structure does not deteriorate to a condition of inoperativeness even after several months of continuous use.

The elimination of point loading is schematically illustrated by Fig. 6. In Fig. 6 an induration such as a corn C is protected from the adjacent interior surface of a shoe S by my bandage. Arrow 21 indicates the line of pressure where point loading would normally occur and arrows 22 and 23 represent conduction lines dissipating or dispersing engendered heat throughout foil member 4. It will be observed that the tape body formed of relatively non-conductive fabric or the like insulates the induration from the line of heat iiow.

A similar problem of point loading may occur between the surface of the corn C and bottom of the dressing illustrated by the foil member 6. The arrow 21a indicates the line of pressure where point loading might normally occur and which is coaxial with arrow 21. The foil member 4 materially reduces the coefficient of friction between the adjacent surfaces. Frictional heat which might be engendered is dissipated through the foil sheet 6 as indicated by flow arrows 24 and 25.

It is obvious that a conventional protective backing sheet may be applied to the adhesive undersurface of the tape and may be formed of such conventional materials as treated kraft paper, Holland cloth or the like.

While l have described the invention in speciiic detail for purposes of clarity of understanding by reference to example and illustration of use, it is understood that changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, the combination of a tapernember formed of flexible material provided with a skin adhering adhesive on the under surface thereof and a sheet of metal foil secured to a portion of said underside of said tape member and a sheet of metal foil provided on the top surface of said tape and overlying the metal foil sheet disposed on the underside of said tape member, the metal sheet disposed on the under surface of the tape member being of less length than the tape member and located intermediate the ends of said tape member and spaced inwardly from the side edges of said under surface of said tape member.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the combination of a tape member formed of flexible material provided with a skin adhering adhesive on the under surface thereof and a sheet of metal foil secured to a portion of said underside of said tape member and a sheet of metal foil provided on the top surface of said tape and overlying the metal foil sheet disposed on the underside of said tape member, the metal sheet disposed on the under surface of the tape member being of less length than the tape member and located intermediate the ends of said tape member and the said sheets of metal foil disposed on the top surface and underside of the tape member terminating short of the side edges of said tape member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,662,446 Wappler Mar. 13, 1928 2,577,945 Atherton Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 350,384 Great Britain June 4, 1931 

1. AS A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, THE COMBINATION OF A TAPE MEMBER FORMED OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PROVIDED WITH A SKIN ADHERING ADHESIVE ON THE UNDER SURFACE THEREOF AND A SHEET OF METAL FOIL SECURED TO A PORTION OF SAID UNDERSIDE OF SAID TAPE MEMBER AND A SHEET OF METAL FOIL PROVIDED ON THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID TAPE AND OVERLYING THE METAL FOIL SHEET DISPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TAPE MEMBER, THE METAL SHEET DISPOSED ON THE UNDER SURFACE OF THE TAPE MEMBER BEING OF LESS LENGTH THAN THE TAPE MEMBER AND LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE END OF SAID TAPE MEMBER AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID EDGES OF SAID UNDER SURFACE OF SAID TAPE MEMBER. 